"Cicuta douglasii." Latin, I sighed at Sage's words even as the gears in my mind churned.
"Water Hemlock? It is a highly toxic plant, considered one of the most poisonous easily accessible in Terra, not native to Pandimonuim, and illegal in Elyssium. The toxin which it is saturated in, called cicutoxin, primarily affects the central nervous system, leading to symptoms including seizures, convulsions, and potentially death. It is easy enough to slip into things such as fresh salads, or anything made with turnips." I recited from memory, one of the few benefits of being Void, photographic memory.
"Why?" His single question caused me pause, before my mind settled.
"Oh...it smells simular to turnips, and has a sweet taste although the roots are the most dangerous part. The whole plant carries the toxin, but it's really potent in the roots. Those are easy to slip into a number of other consumed items. Also do not touch it with bare hands, you can get poisoned by it that way as well. Its prudent to wear protective gear when handling any form of poison though." Protective gear was essential when crafting and handling most anything toxic or poisonous. Special made gloves, a face shield, and apron that covered my arms entirely. It left no skin exposed, and gave one the most minimal chance of self harm.
"What does the plant look like." The plant itself, an image, popped into my head at his next words.
"A tall, vigorous perennial plant with many leafy branches, usually streaked or spotted with purple, hairless. Flowers minute, with 5 petals, white, in compound umbels 2–5 inches across, surmounting the leafy shoots."
"Nick name?" I was getting angry, heat flared in my pale face at his words.
"It's is commonly called poison parsnip."
"And?" The heat I felt flashed through my whole body.
"And what?!" I spat feet planted heavily in my stirrups as I rose slightly.
"Lasciva." I felt the calm wash of his magic, the warmth of the ocean and the heat was suddenly gone. "Chaos....explain everything you've learned about it. Stop making me have to ask so many questions." He sighed heavily and I watched head tilting as he ran a hand through his blue hued silver hair. "Tell me everything ypu know about the plant I name. The Academy is not for the meek, and you don't wish to be a follower now do you?"
"No." His words has caught me off gaurd, but he was correct. I took a deep breath "Sorry Teacher, your correct. Perfect recall like mine only works well if I actually use it correctly. I am not saying that I am stupid but that I shall do better." My life was not one where I could afford to be a child, a cold weight settled into my stomach. My heart burned, even as heat crept up my neck and ears. I did not embarrass easily, but here I was feeling an emotion. Part of me wanted to savor the feelings that surged in me, but that cold pit grew.
I knew that every emotion I felt would fade, I only had them until puberty. When my body hit puberty, at twelve or thirteen I would lose it all. Not just feelings, but anything one could feel and that included touch. I would one day lose even my sense of touch, but not in a way you would expect. Oh no, Void was special like that as any and all feelings even associated with other senses would go as well. He companionship I felt learning with my Teacher, my love for my mother and sister. A hug would mean nothing, a conversation nothing, I would one day become completely empty. Even food, or sleep would have no effects for me any longer but I would still need those.
"Abrusprecatorius." I felt the anger back but I had lived with anger all my life. It would, I knew with no doubt, be the very last thing I would lose. Not so good for other's but I had a game to play, and a smile broke out on my face. Sage gave a sudden laugh that had some cough to it, he'd tried not to react but he knew me maybe too well.
"Rosary pea which is also called jequirity bean, is a toxic, woody, twining vine native to Terra. Its abundant in Pandimonuim due to its uses as a common poison used by The Academy." I had an idea now of what answers he was wanting exactly, or well a better idea. "It's apperance is a twining perennial plant that likes to do so on other larger plants, such as trees or shrubs. It is slender with long, pinnate-leafleted leaves, it lacks tendrils thus why it twines other plants. Its key characteristic to help with identifying the rosary pea is the lack of a terminal leaflet on the compound leaves." I took a breath and continued "However it is best known for its seeds, which are used as beads and in percussion instruments. This is also the toxic component of the plant which are toxic because of the presence of abrin. They are bright red with a black hilum, resembling chicken eyes which is how they get some of the other nicknames. While gestion of a single seed, well chewed, is a lethal poisoning which includes nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and liver failure, it is usually several days before it will end with death. This means it's a longer acting poison, so to enter the Spade Pit I need to use it in a few ways."
"Good, keep thinking like that." Sage nodded his head towards my backpack that he'd strapped to the back of the saddle. "Read while we ride, you already have photographic memory so that will be great help for your studies. When you have read it through I'll give you a test."
"Alright." I shifted swaying a bit, still not entirely comfortable on the back of a horse no matter how docile it was. Rhone, the dapple grey I had been learning on was steady as he followed Grayne who was of the same bloodline. "Where are we headed? Goal?" He laughed then giving a shake of his head as eyes that mirrored ours staring back at me.
"Oh some ruins." He gave a smile with bite back, I knew that smile. "Dragon and Morrigan will be there."
"Civa?!" Excitement bolted through me, my best friend and the only person I had full confidence in.
"Of course and the girl. Seika." I felt a cold coil in my chest when I heard her name. Dragon and his younger sister, Seika, their story had just gotten very tragic. Both their parent's dead, murdered brutally in front of them. That had happened just last night he'd told me thanks to Civa.
"Did Seika.....?" I trailed off, Seika had just awakened and things had been off. I knew something was off that this was not right.
"Yes, she saw. Yes she tried to heal them would have succeeded had they not known." A cold lump fell to my stomach, my chest froze down and suddenly everything was hyper focused. Void, nothingness fell across my mind, my heart, my body, and then my soul.
Rare, Seika was very very rare and more powerful than anyone realized, for now. She was innocent, and no one would realize she'd yet to burn. Doll like, porcelain and dainty did nothing to describe the girl I knew. Clouds, mist, and sunshine any time I had saw her.
"Civa, where is the nearest and quickest?"
"Well you guys are both in Terra, so doable. It will wear you and me out." Her voice drifted from the mirror I noted near the pommel.
"I will supply the energy needed."
"Crackin! Then I'll park you all in the glad as soon as we find a mirror you can at least walk through~" Her voice was more singing than talking by the end and I laughed.
"Lasciva I love you." She giggled and as I glanced at the mirror, blew a kiss. Her platinum silver hair was always the first thing I saw, and then her large amber eyes. One of the two best friends I had "Is he?"
"Seth is doing what he must. Everything will work out just fine and its what we all agreed. Seth is the oldest though, but he's fine as long as I'm with you. You'll be able to talk as soon as he has everything stabilized."
"Four years." Her laugh twinkled through the air like snowflakes, sparkly snowflakes. Her energy always calmed me, like a happy drug and I had so needed that. I could still be a child with her and him, I think I always would. A nephilum, friends with the Son of God, and daughter to Morrigan. That was only the tip of the iceberg on who each of us was, and what our goals were.
Aligned, always and undeniable that is what they were to each other. Family, blood or no blood and no matter what. They would always trust each other and always do what they must do no matter what. They each had their role to play, Civa could handle Seth and Chaos, well I already told you didn't I?
I told you was was going to make it mine, but never told you what. The Academy, and as her amber eyes were replaced by my aquamarine gaze I saw it all. I could only afford to feel around them, now I needed to focus. Civa would maybe be able to shorten our trip before we would meet up anyway. So study time, Teacher would find an appropriate mirror.